If slouching at your computer is your go-to pose these days, this one’s for you! Our whole lives, at least throughout our childhoods, we’ve been told to ‘sit up straight!’ or ‘stop slouching!’. I bet you can still hear your grandma saying that now! What’s more is, although we’re well aware of how bad poor posture is for our health, we seem to find some sort of comfort or complacency in it. Especially if you’re used to heads down or focused work, your posture is the last thing that’s on your mind when you’re in auto pilot. The good news is, with some practice and self-awareness, your posture can significantly improve in no time!
The amazing benefits of maintaining good posture are endless:
1) Joints and bones maintain proper alignment;
2) Any stress on the spine is reduced;
3) Minimal muscle fatigue;
4) Overall proper muscle function is maintained.
Now you don’t need to hit up the yoga studio 5 days a week to get here (unless you’re like me and, well, really want to!) with some simple, straightforward strategies, you can take your posture from little old granny to tall, bold, and strong! 💪 It’s time to make your posture the top priority! Here are some simple tips and tricks to get you there:
1) Take 15 minutes a day to stretch
This is really the least you can do! If you’ve come across my easy office stretches post here you know how simple it is to incorporate easy stretching techniques right from your desk. Taking it a step further, you can adopt a new exercise regime that works best for you (always speak to your doc first!). Yoga has been the most beneficial for me as taking classes on a regular basis has stretched out those little kinks in my neck and shoulders that come with a desk job.
2) Adjust your workstation
You’re in control of your workstation so why not make it more ergonomically sound? If you’re fortune to work for a company that employs an ergonomic specialist, take full advantage of the knowledge they carry or have them monitor your working style, they can give you some super helpful tips! Simple tasks like adjusting the height of your monitor(s) to reduce the strain of your neck or incorporating a keyboard guard can eliminate the pressure on your wrists that do all that typing.
3) Get up and move
Remember how awesome it was to take a stroll outside in the sunshine with your bestie? Why don’t we do that more often?! Even a longer walk to the copier or walking to your colleagues desk can be a simple break from a day of sitting in poor posture. Have a standing desk? Take advantage of it! Even if it’s just for an hour or so a day. The more you get up and move, the more relief your muscles will feel.
4) See a chiropractor
Whether you suffer from significant pain or not, the benefits of seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis are truly endless. Not only can regular adjustments help to maintain proper alignment, you’ll feel like a rockstar leaving the chiropractor knowing that you’re taking the best care of yourself and your overall well-being.
What’s the best strategy you use to maintain proper posture? Let me know in the comments section below!
